Scarleteen

this is just a general question, do kinks always have a specific "reason?" am I truly into a kink if its main appeal to me is just the taboo factor rather than anything about the kink itself? is this invalidating those who "legitimately" enjoy these things?

This may be something that different people have different thoughts on, but I don't think every kink or preference is going to be traceable to a specific reason or inspiration. And similarly, I don't think any particular reason is going to be better or more legitimate than another. I don't see it as helpful to compare one person's reasons or inspirations with another's - if your reasons for having a certain kink are indeed different from someone else's, that doesn't mean one of you is invalidating the other, or one of you is in the right.